Rock Glue

[Demonic]

I am pretty sure that this has been asked before, but I cant find it. What is the best glue to use to glue LR together. I am pretty sure that I have heard Thorite. But which kind and where can I find it.

Thanks
Ben

[bad santa]

I havent used it but you can go to HD and buy Aquamend. Its like a playdoe type glue. It will harden and hold your rocks together.

[Demonic]

Bump. Online stores are better for me. All we have for stores are Menards and a few local hardware stores.

[a1amap]

Drfostersmith.com and thatpetplace.com have it online but its going to cost a little more then the hardware store

[Gordonious]

On the vender sites Al recommended try searching for "epoxy" rather than glue. What you want is a reef safe epoxy. Just as a warning don't use too much at a time and follow the instructions.

[crt81]

Why would you not use alot at the time?


Any reason?


Is it bad?

[Demonic]

I am sure it is because of the PH swing it can cause.

[NanoReefWanabe]

possibly because it smells like stale cat pee.....:wink:

i am sure the chemicals used in the epoxy cant be that great for the tank....

i use it all the time, i have used loads of different ones too...i read the ingredients they all seem to be the same...i used JBwater weld, i used the aquamend, i bought something at LFS....no adverse effects yet...

and the stuff is pretty hard to screw up...tear off a piece squish it throughly and then stick you rock together...if the rocks are live then you will have to dry them with paper towel...the stuff will stick to your fingers like crazy too if they are dry...keep your fingers damp and your good...

[Gordonious]

Careful some epoxys have heavy metals in them.

If you use a lot of epoxy at a time it can drive your skimmer nuts for one thing. There was also a person recently complaining that some of his corals retracted for a long time after he used some epoxy. There is chemicals they release during the curing process that aren't great for the tank, but usually through dilution show know lasting effects.

I'd just recommend doing a little at a time and if it is convenient doing it outside the tank and letting it sit in a little bucket of tank water for a couple minutes before returning it to the rock. (then flush the bucket water)

The other thing is if you glue all your rocks together then it will be hell to move your tank if you have to do so. Most of us are always dreaming about that bigger house or constantly moving due to work, so don't make yourself one massively large rock. Just glue a couple of key pieces together if needed.

Don't worry too much about the warnings I am just a bit obsessive and extra cautious. The stuff is pretty safe.

[Demonic]

Actually this rock is for a new tank when I get back from deployment. I will be ordering from MarcoRocks and it will be able to sit in the tank for a while with nothing else in it. So I will be able to add alot with no worries. Thanks Guys, never disappointing

[NanoReefWanabe]

other thing i have noticed about it too....if you let it air cure...thenit will be rock solid...when you let it cure under water is seems to have a very tough cookie dough type cure...the epoxy can be broken appart if it is cured under water but not if cured int he air..

[Demonic]

and thats for the water JB weld?

[MeuserReef]

Originally posted by Demonic
Bump. Online stores are better for me. All we have for stores are Menards and a few local hardware stores.

Well I KNOW that you have to have a Wal-Mart...

.... which is where I got this:



I have used this many times and its cheap ~$5. Cures pretty quick too.

[medic29]

Can you use any of these under water....I would rather not take the rock out of the tank and honestly sometimes it is just not practical to do so.

[shookbrad]

Hydraulic cement is a good weigh to bond live rock. I hardens fast and does not cause a PH swing. You can add stuff to the cement to make it look more natural as well.

[yetiman]

I was thinking of using Hydraulic cement to bond my live rock for my aquascaping but I was told it would need to cure to avoid a ph swing. Can anyone confirm if this is true or not. Thanks

[shookbrad]

It might take a while but this thread talks about hydraulic cement somewhere. It has a guy that uses it for bonding live rock on customer tanks. I am not sure there in the thread it lives though.
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1156212
Also if you ask the question InsaneReefer might be able to point you to the posts.

[Demonic]

Can you get the hydraulic cement at most hardware stores?

[MeuserReef]

The epoxy works underwater with no ill effects to the tank (IME)